Jewelry box with electronic display apparatus

ABSTRACT

An improved jewelry box having electronic display apparatus includes a top section pivotally connected to a bottom section by a hinge. By opening the box, an LCD or other devices display video, audio or photographic data intended for the recipient of the jewelry. A switch is provided which activates the display of the data once the box is opened by the recipient and to turn the display off upon closing the box. The jewelry box includes a light source controlled by the switch so that the light source is illuminated after the box is opened to further enhance the perceived value of the jewelry. A multimedia memory card slot or a USB port is provided for exchanging data between an external memory source, such as MMC/SD cards, and the internal memory of the jewelry box to change, add to or modify the video, audio or photographic data to be displayed. The jewelry box includes a rechargeable battery to provide a power source for the LCD and other devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This present invention is directed to an improved jewelry box that when used to present jewelry to someone, contains an electronic display, diffused light, audio speaker and supporting computer electronics for the audio/visual displaying of messages, greetings and or photographic images which plays when the box is opened to enhance the jeweler, jewelry and receiving.

2. Description of the Related Art

Jewelry boxes are frequently used for giving/presenting jewelry such as diamond rings, precious stones, earrings, watches, bracelets or necklaces. Such conventional boxes are used to provide a setting befitting the jeweler and or content of the jewelry box to enhance the perceived value of the contents for the recipient. A wide range and quality of exterior and interior material and finishes provide the appropriate setting for the jeweler and its product, with elegance and luxury as the prime objective of the jewelry box. High gloss stained and exotic woods, supple leather, satin, vinyl are some the exterior finishes with satin, silk, leather and velour providing many of the interior settings for the jewelry piece. Some conventional jewelry boxes include a permanent written message or one or more light sources that illuminate when the jewelry box is opened. This is usually found in the larger storage type jewelry boxes.

However, conventional jewelry boxes do not utilize current updated digital technology that would benefit both the jeweler and the recipient. Both the jeweler and giver seek additional ways to express the value and enhance the product for the recipient of the jewelry. These conventional jewelry boxes do not include the use of custom photo, video, text and or audio messages that can be preprogrammed by the jeweler and or recipient and displayed on a display screen, such as an LCD, and activated at that special moment the jewelry box is opened. These conventional boxes also do not allow for displaying personalized messages that can be a customized special one-time message created for the recipient by the gift-giver on his or her home computer for later use. In addition the jewelry box can continue to be used by the recipient as a repeatable display of the special moment or to display additional photos, videos, text and or audio on demand at home, office or wherever and whenever the recipient elects to play the desired program. This is a benefit to all parties—the jeweler, the giver and the recipient. Thus, a need exists for an improved jewelry box with electronic display apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved jewelry box with electronic display apparatus is disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the improved jewelry box includes a top section pivotally connected to a bottom section by a hinge. The box is opened by pivotally rotating the top section away from the bottom section. The box includes an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or other electronic display/screen technologies such as OLED, PDP, holographic and computer electronics with memory for data storage. With the display in the top section and the electronics in both connecting the top and bottom by electronic cabling.

The box includes a rechargeable internal power source (like lithium) adapted to provide power for the LCD, computer memory and the supporting electronics. There are 2 switches. One is a mechanical switch that activates the light source and or electronic program when the box is opened and terminates such when it is closed. The second is an electronic switch that determines if the selected program will execute or not when the box is opened. This switch activates the display of the data stored in the computer memory on the LCD once the box is opened by the recipient and terminates the program as well. This switch also allows the box to remain open without any light or audio/visual display being active.

In one or more embodiments, the jewelry box includes an audio speaker. Audio formats like AVI, QT, MIDI, CDA, MP3, MP4 can be stored in the jewelry box computer memory. The audio file can be programmed to play through the audio speaker once the box is opened. In further embodiments, the jewelry box can include a light source controlled by the switch so that the light source is illuminated after the box is opened to further enhance the perceived value of the jewelry. The light source is diffused and distributed around the jewelry piece so there are no hot spots so as to not impair the visual observation of the jewelry.

In further embodiments, the jewelry box includes a removal memory card slot and or a USB port for uploading data from an external source to the internal memory of the jewelry box. Photo's, text, video and audio files can be uploaded to the jewelry box memory /removable memory.

In one or more embodiments, preprogrammed video data is stored on the computer memory for display on the LCD. In additional embodiments, the jewelry box includes a rechargeable battery to provide a power source for the LCD and other electronics. Other and further embodiments of the invention will be evident to persons skilled in the art from the Figures and descriptions provided herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended Figures illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention but not all features shown and described are required to practice the invention as the full breadth and scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention illustrated one assembled configuration when the box is opened.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention showing the display screen.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the back of one embodiment of the invention showing one example of the multimedia card (MMC) or synchronous data (SD) card interface and an USB port.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of one embodiment illustrating controls that may be included on the box of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of one or more embodiments of the top section and the bottom section for the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of the electronic control elements for use in one or more embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The detailed descriptions of one or more embodiments of the present invention are set forth below in connection with the appended drawings and are intended as a description of embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form or embodiment in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The descriptions set forth the structure or features for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent structures that are also encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the jewelry box 10 of the present invention includes a top section 12 and a bottom section 14 that are connected by a hinge 16. The hinge 16 allows the top section 12 to pivotally rotate to mate with the bottom section 14 so that the box is in a closed configuration (not shown). By pivoting the top section 12 away from the bottom section 14, the box 10 is opened up to an open configuration as shown in FIG. 1.

The box 10 includes a holder 20 for the jewelry piece 22 as shown in FIG. 1. As used herein the term jewelry includes not only rings but precious stones, earrings, bracelets, necklaces and other articles known to persons skilled in the art and which are typically arranged in enclosed boxes. Also as shown in FIG. 1, the box 10 includes the electronic display screen 24 which is secured to the top section 12 in this embodiment and which is displaying the message “ABC”. Displays other messages or information on the electronic display are within the scope of the invention. FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment with the electronic display screen 24 displaying a video screen shot.

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear perspective view of another embodiment the jewelry box 10. A removable panel 30 is attached to the bottom section 14. When the panel 30 is removed, the slot 32 for a multimedia card/synchronous data (MMC/SD) memory card is shown for use in exchanging data with an appropriate external memory card well known to persons skilled in the art. Also, the USB port 34 is shown in FIG. 3 for connection to appropriate external device, such as a computer to exchange data between the box 10 and an external device.

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the bottom of the box 10 illustrating one key layout panel 40 for control keys for powering on the box 10. The keys include the menu key 42, the forward step key 42, the menu/power key 44, the play key 46 and the back step key 48.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of the top section 12 and an exploded view of the bottom section 14 used in one or more embodiments. As shown in FIG. 5, the top section 12 includes an upper case 50, the LCD 52 and the LCD frame 54. The hinge 16 includes the hinge mechanism 56, a spring clip 58, and a hinge cable cover 60.

The bottom section 14 includes a ring setting 70 and the light panel 72 that connect to the bottom case 74. A printed circuit board 76 includes a Lithium-ion battery 78 all of which fit within the bottom case 74. A PCB electronic panel 80 is used and includes the power button 82 for powering up the electrical devices. The mechanical switch 90 is used to activate the electronics when the box is opened.

FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of the electronic controls and display used in one or more embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, a motherboard 201 is connected to a daughterboard 202 by a board-to-board connector 203 well known to persons skilled in the art. The motherboard 201 has circuits for storing and driving audio or video transducers and the daughterboard has a video transducer, such as an LCD display 204.

The motherboard 210 includes a multimedia processor 206, such as MV8620CNK-G 8X8 176 pin ball grid array (BGA) multimedia processor. Support for Windows ME/200/XP is provided but other operating systems are within the scope of the present invention and well known to persons skilled in the art.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, an external card slot can facilitate electrical communication between multimedia processor 206 and removable media, such as multimedia card/synchronous data (MMC/SD) memory card 207, by an MMC/SD interface. Other types of removable media are likewise suitable and persons skilled in the art will understand that onboard or non-removable media can be used.

Audio and video information, such as a greeting or other message, is stored on memory card 207. Such audio or video information is communicated to memory card 207 while memory card 207 is in place within the device. Alternatively, memory card 207 is removed and inserted into a computer, for example, so as to store audio or video information therein for later use. Serial peripheral interface NOR (SPI NOR) flash memory 208 provides operating memory for multimedia processor 206 by a NOR interface known to persons skilled in the art. Other types of operating memory can alternatively be used. Firmware upgrades can be performed.

Audio codec 209 communicates with multimedia processor 206 by an audio interface to facilitate coding and decoding of audio data, such as audio data stored on MMC/SD card 207.

As further illustrated in FIG. 6, real time clock (RTC) 210 provides a clock signal to multimedia processor 206 and audio codec 209. Real time clock 210 can be used to apply a time code to audio/video data according to well known principles. In one or more embodiments, an oscillator 231, such as a 24 MHz crystal oscillator, provides a clock signal to multimedia processor 206 to facilitate operation thereof. Lithium ion battery 211 provides power to real time clock 210. Lithium ion battery 211 also provides power to multimedia processor 206 and other circuitry of the motherboard 201 and daughterboard 202 by a hardware switch 212. Lithium ion battery 211 can be a 4.2 volt, 440 mAh battery, but other batteries and power sources are within the scope of the present invention.

Hardware switch 212 allows the electronics to be powered up or turned on, such as when the box of the present invention is opened. In one or more embodiments, hardware switch 212 is a push button switch that is activated when the top section is separated from the bottom section. In other embodiments, hardware switch 212 is operated manually. Hardware switch 212 provides power from lithium ion battery 211 to the DC to DC converter 214 and low dropout regulator (LDO) 213. In one or more embodiments, DC to DC converter 214 provides 1.6 volts to multimedia processor 206 and low dropout regulator 213 provides 3.0 volts to multimedia processor 206 and to mixed signal multipoint control unit 218.

As further illustrated in FIG. 6, switch 215, switch 216 and switch 217 can be used to set operational parameters of the multimedia processor 206 such as operating voltages and clock speeds. Thin quad flat pack mixed signal multipoint control unit 218 facilitates communication between universal serial bus jack 220 and multimedia processor 206. Charge IC 219 can control lithium ion battery 211 to prevent excessive discharge thereof. As those skilled in the art will understand, excessive discharge of lithium ion batteries can adversely impact their subsequent use.

In one or more embodiments, speaker 221 can be in electrical communication with audio codec 209 so as to reproduce an audio message stored in memory card 207. In other embodiments, an audio message corresponds to a video message simultaneously displayed by LCD screen 204. Speaker 221 can either be attached to motherboard 203 or can be separate therefrom and connected thereto such as by a speaker out connector or the like well known to persons skilled in the art. In still further embodiments, daughterboard 202 has an LCD screen 204 and a back light 205 for LCD screen 204.

Other and further embodiments may include the following items shown in tabular form below:

ITEMS SPEC Main Chip-set USB-MICOM + MV8602 Nor-Flash (Serial type: SPI) 8 MB Software: OS Support WindowsMe/2000/XP. PC Application Yes (Exist in Nor-Flash: Auto- (Without install CD) Run): File Donw/Upload, or Resizing. Firmware Upgrade Yes (Including PC Application Upgrade). CASE Plastic KEY Power, Menu, FF REW, Open: 5 keys Mechanism & LCD: LCD 2.0″ TFT (128* 160+) External card slot MMC/SD Size (X* Y* T) TBD (mm) Decoding File Format BMP, JPG, MPEG4 with Audio Speaker Yes Feature List: RTC (Clock/Calendar) Yes Numbers of Photo Store 100 Photos (Jpg: 1024 * 768) or Time of Video Play 10 MPEG4 files (10 seconds) Battery Li-ion (Rechargeable −440 mA) Cradle No USB Mass Storage/USB USB 2.0 Full Speed (Mass Storage) cable /Mini USB jack cable Playing/Charging Time 3 Hours Accessory (Option) AC-DC Adaptor, Car USB Female Jack style: 110/220 V, Adaptor 12 V/24 V

While the present invention has been described with regards to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised by persons skilled in the art without departing from the invention and the subject matter of the invention encompasses the full breadth and scope of the claims appended hereto including all equivalents. 

1. An improved jewelry box comprising: a top section and a bottom section; a hinge connecting the top section to the bottom section and adapted to allow controlled opening and closing of the top section and the bottom section, said top section and said bottom section defining an interior volume when in a closed configuration; a jewelry holder secured to said bottom section; and an electronic display screen secured to said top section and adapted to display data when said top section and said bottom section are opened from the closed configuration.
 2. The jewelry box of claim 1 further comprising an audio speaker adapted to produce audible signals after the box is opened.
 3. The jewelry box of claim 1 further comprising at least one light source adapted to illuminate after the box is opened.
 4. The jewelry box of claim 1 further comprising a slot for a multimedia memory card to provide data for display on the electronic display screen.
 5. The jewelry box of claim 1 further comprising a USB port to provide data for display on the electronic display screen.
 6. The jewelry box of claim 1 further comprising a rechargeable battery.
 7. The jewelry box of claim 6 where said battery is a lithium battery.
 8. The jewelry box of claim 1 further comprising displaying preprogrammed data on the electronic display screen.
 9. The jewelry box apparatus of claim 8 where said preprogrammed data comprises video.
 10. The jewelry box of claim 1 further comprising an on/off switch for turning off the display of data on the electronic display screen when the box is closed.
 11. An improved jewelry box apparatus, comprising: a top section pivotally connected to a bottom section by a hinge, said top section and said bottom section defining an enclosed volume for an article holder when in a closed configuration, the box adapted to be opened to an open configuration by pivotally rotating the top section away from the bottom section, further comprising: an LCD; computer memory having stored data; a power source adapted to provide power; and a switch adapted to activate the display of the stored data on the LCD after the box is opened from the closed configuration.
 12. The jewelry box apparatus of claim 11 further comprising an audio speaker that is powered by the power source such that the switch is adapted to activate the production of audible signals from the audio speaker after the box is opened.
 13. The jewelry box apparatus of claim 11 further comprising at least one light source powered by the power source such that the switch is adapted to activate illumination of the at least one light source after the box is opened.
 14. The jewelry box apparatus of claim 11 further comprising slot for a multimedia memory card.
 15. The jewelry box apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a USB port.
 16. The jewelry box apparatus of claim 14 where data is exchanged between a multimedia memory card and the computer memory via the slot.
 17. The jewelry box apparatus of claim 15 where data is exchanged between an external memory device and the computer memory via the USB port.
 18. The jewelry box apparatus of claim 11 further comprising preprogrammed video data stored on the computer memory.
 19. The jewelry box apparatus of claim 11 wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.
 20. The jewelry box apparatus of claim 11 wherein the switch is an on/off switch. 